Boston College Chronicle by Boston College

The Boston College

Chronicle Published by the Boston College Office of News & Public Affairs january 28, 2016 VOL. 23 no. 10

University Launches New Strategic Planning Initiative

INSIDE 1,000 wins (so far) 2 •Photo: for Jerry York

Michael Lochhead and David Quigley named as co-chairs By Jack Dunn Director of News & Public Affairs

•Family Concert series is 10 years old •Innovative Consumer Insights lab opens

3 •Fr. Leahy, Mayor Walsh

present community grants

•Researchers advance Nobel-winning technique Alumna Cabral 4 •Photo: speaks at Unity Breakfast Math faculty 5 •LSOE, join forces for teacher mentoring program

returning to 6 •Noonan BC to present musical at Robsham this semseter

•Program to help studentathletes prepare for their post-collegiate lives

7 •Welcome Additions;

BC in the Media; Expert Opinion; Jobs

It Irish’ exhibi8 •’Making tion coming to McMullen

Lee Pellegrini

After a two-year, campus-wide effort, the University unveils its redesigned website Bold images and compelling videos. A responsive mobile design. Audience-driven navigation. These are just a few of the changes that will greet you on the redesigned BC.EDU website that was launched Jan. 17. The site is the result of a two-year, campus-wide effort to redefine how Boston College is viewed online. The last redesign was in 2006. The initial phase of a multi-year effort includes the University’s most heavily-trafficked pages: the BC homepage, Admission, Academics, Research, Campus Life, a new Jesuit, Catholic page and the BC News site. The redesign will expand across schools, departments and services in the coming months and years. A project team consisting of staff members from Information Technology Services (ITS), the Office of News & Public Affairs (NPA) and the Office of Marketing Communications (OMC), worked with a web design firm, R2integrated, and stakeholders across the University. “The project team worked very hard to ensure that the entire effort was truly inclusive,” said Vice President for Information Technology Services Mike Bourque. “Hundreds of meetings were held across campus to solicit input. A comprehensive review of higher education and industry websites was conducted. The end product has clearly benefited from the varied perspectives of faculty,

staff, students, alumni, parents and prospective students. It was heartening to have received such great support for our efforts.” The customized pages, which are still supported by the Adobe Experience Manager content management system, replace the prior, standardized BC web templates. Because the Boston College website has grown to more than 230 distinct sites and 40,000 individual web pages, the site needed to be streamlined, and duplicate content eliminated. In addition to the new look, users will enjoy increased functionality: a new event calendar, a streamlined news site and new audience pages that have items of interest to parents, students, faculty and staff. Dynamic photography, engaging videos and concise writing work alongside subtle animations and intuitive navigation to improve the overall user experience. “This first phase represents a transformation of Boston College’s image to the outside world,” said Jack Dunn, director of News & Public Affairs. “It is an impressive beginning, and we look forward to meeting with deans and vice presidents to discuss next steps in this ongoing and vitally important University project. “This web redesign would not have been possible without the extraordinary commitment of our project team,” Dunn continued. “Through Continued on page 6

QUOTE:

Boston College has initiated a new strategic planning effort that will identify institutional priorities for the next decade. The University Strategic Planning Initiative (USPI) comes on the heels of the successful $1.5 billion “Light the World” capital campaign, which was launched to support the Seven Strategic Directions identified in the University’s 2006 Strategic Plan. University President William P. Leahy, SJ, has named Executive Vice President Michael J. Lochhead and Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley to serve as USPI co-chairs. They will work with a steering committee composed of deans, faculty, senior administrators and students to assess progress made on the Seven Strategic Directions, and identify new strategic priorities. The Steering Committee will

conduct internal analyses, gather recommendations and ideas from the University community and identify priority areas of focus before creating a strategic plan draft document for review by the Boston College Board of Trustees. The time frame for the planning effort will be roughly 18-24 months. “Embarking on a new strategic planning effort at Boston College requires attention to vision, mission and decisions,” said Fr. Leahy. “It calls us to devote time and energy to a candid assessment of our strengths, weaknesses and opportunities as a major university with a distinctive heritage, to dialogue, analysis and reflection, especially in the context of our history and tradition, and to the creative process, based on the conviction that people committed to strengthening our institution can develop plans that are aspirational and inspirational.” Added Lochhead, “Any sucContinued on page 4

BCSSW Colleagues Seek to Heighten Awareness of Social Isolation Risks By Sean Smith Chronicle Editor

A group of Boston College School of Social Work faculty, program administrators and students are co-leading a national initiative to eradicate social isolation, which they describe as “a silent killer – as dangerous to health as smoking.” To combat social isolation, the initiative calls for public education, interdisciplinary collaboration between health and human services professionals, and promoting “effective ways to deepen social connections and community for people of all ages.” The initiative is one of 12 that make up the Grand Challenges for Social Work, a wide-ranging

Lee Pellegrini

James Lubben is helping lead an initiative to address social isolation.

agenda organized by the American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare (AASWSW) that seeks to enlist social work researchers and practitioners in addressing major societal issues. Other Grand ChalContinued on page 5

“It was always an enriching experience to be able to work with performers of a variety of ages [from five-25]. As a teen, I loved working with BC students because they were always so supportive, fun and were great role models. I’m lucky that I get to be on the other side of that now.” –Natasza Gawlick ’16 on the Family Concert series, page 2

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Chronicle january 28, 2016

A ROUND A DECADE OF FAMILY FUN An afternoon of opera scenes from such perennial favorites as “The Magic Flute,” “Hansel and Gretel” and “Brundibar” will mark the 10th anniversary of the Music Department’s Family Concert series. The Jan. 31 event, which takes place at 4 p.m. in Lyons 423, will be an interactive performance for all ages, featuring Boston College students, faculty and alumni. Scenes will be staged from all previous productions, with instrumental selections by Bach and Saint-Saëns. Admission is free. For series founder and artistic director Barbara S. Gawlick, a

C AMPUS

JY1K

on campus. These concerts allow whole families to experience music together; it is a form of music education for all.” A highlight of the Family Concerts events is audience participation. The actors will pose questions to the audience, children will help in acting out scenes, and there will be a quiz with prizes at the end of the concert. Of the expected audience, Gawlick said: “We have built a good following. Some families come back every year and it is special to see the kids grow, [and] their younger siblings join in. It will be so interesting for kids and families

Caitlin Cunningham

Men’s hockey Coach Jerry York receives congratulations from the team after their 8-0 triumph over UMass on Jan. 22, York’s 1,000th career victory. Already the winningest coach in college hockey history, he also is the first to reach 1,000 wins. This past week also marked a milestone for No. 1-ranked BC women’s hockey: The team beat Merrimack 4-1 Tuesday to extend its program-best winning streak to 27 games, which is the second-longest streak in NCAA history. (Photo by John Quackenbos)

The Music Department Family Concert series presented “The Magic Flute” in 2011, above. This Sunday, the series will mark its 10th anniversary.

Music Department lecturer, the anniversary resonates both professionally and personally. “I began Family Concerts at BC when my daughter Natasza was 12, and [she was] a soloist in many of our productions. Now she is a senior at BC.” Gawlick said the concert’s onedecade mark is “a perfect opportunity to bring some BC alumni back to the stage. I think this retrospective program will flow beautifully and offer great variety.” A half-dozen BC students are involved in the performance: four singers, a solo pianist and a solo cellist. The experience is an important one for the students, according to Gawlick. “They have a chance to serve the community with their musical talent, learn new pieces and work with alumni who became professional musicians. “It is also important to allow the talents of faculty, students and alumni to be seen and heard

to revisit music they heard before.” While Natasza Gawlick ’16 will not be performing this time around, she feels fortunate to have participated for several years. “It was always an enriching experience to be able to work with performers of a variety of ages [from five-25]. As a teen, I loved working with BC students because they were always so supportive, fun and were great role models. I’m lucky that I get to be on the other side of that now; even though I won’t be performing, I’m still backstage helping the singers get ready, steadying any nerves, and giving them any cues! “It’s a wonderful experience for both the audience and performers, and my mom does an amazing job including everyone – those watching and singing.” For information, contact ext.22514 or email musicdep@bc.edu. –Rosanne Pellegrini

Director of NEWS & Public Affairs Jack Dunn Deputy Director of NEWS & Public AFFAIRS Patricia Delaney Editor Sean Smith

Contributing Staff Melissa Beecher Ed Hayward Sean Hennessey Rosanne Pellegrini Kathleen Sullivan Photographers Gary Gilbert Lee Pellegrini

Billed as a tremendous resource for both students and faculty who are interested in behavioral marketing, the Consumer Insights Panel Lab – a controlled laboratory environment that will enable innovative data collection to aid both faculty research and student learning – officially opened this week in Cushing Hall. “The lab provides the right setting to conduct a wide range of behavioral studies,” says Carroll School of Management Assistant Professor of Marketing Nailya Ordabayeva, co-founder of the CIPL. “In addition to enriching BC’s research environment, the lab will enhance students’ learning experiences by giving them the opportunity to experience first-hand the cutting-edge methods and problems studied in marketing.” The lab will also broaden the range of research opportunities because faculty won’t be limited to the kind of data they can find online. The CIPL will consist of a centralized system that brings together the Carroll School community: faculty looking to conduct

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Lee Pellegrini

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Consumer Insights Panel Lab founders Hristina Nikolova, seated at left, and Nailya Ordabayeva celebrate with colleagues at the lab’s opening on Monday.

studies and students or staff members who are participating, either by taking surveys or completing directed tasks. Participants will be paid $5 in cash for every 30 minutes of participation. CIPL’s other co-founder, Assistant Professor of Marketing Hristina Nikolova, says the lab’s potential benefits for students are considerable. “I can attest from my own experience last semester that the stu-

dents love participating in research studies conducted by their professors, and being able to see the other side of their professors’ job. I believe the lab will create more opportunities for faculty-student interactions and student involvement outside the classroom. “We are very thankful to everyone who has helped us with this initiative,” adds Nikolova, “and we look forward to putting the lab to a great use.” –Sean Hennessey

The Boston College Chronicle (USPS 009491), the internal newspaper for faculty and staff, is published biweekly from September to May by Boston College, with editorial offices at the Office of News & Public Affairs, 14 Mayflower Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 (617)552-3350. Distributed free to faculty and staff offices and other locations on campus. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to The Boston College Chronicle, Office of News & Public Affairs, 14 Mayflower Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.

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Chronicle january 28, 2016

BC Chemists Develop New Catalytic Process By Ed Hayward Staff Writer

University President William P. Leahy, SJ, with Boston Mayor Martin Walsh ’10 during the presentation of Allston-Brighton Neighborhood Improvement Fund grants, held in Gasson 100 on Jan. 15. (Photos by Lee Pellegrini)

University Presents Almost $450K in Neighborhood Grants to Allston-Brighton By Sean Hennessey Staff Writer

A Medal of Honor monument, new street signage, bikeshare stations, and improvements to parks are just some of the enhancements on the way for Allston-Brighton residents, thanks to almost $450,000 in neighborhood grants from Boston College. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh ’10 joined University President William P. Leahy, SJ, on Jan. 15 in Gasson 100 in presenting checks to six organizations in support of programs and services for Allston-Brighton residents. The grants came from the $2.5 million Boston College Neighborhood Improvement Fund created by the University – along with the Boston Redevelopment Authority – as part of a public benefits package related to its Institutional Master Plan. The fund aids Allston-Brighton public and private non-profit entities undertaking projects that involve neighborhood beautification; public safety, transportation and roadway improvements; public art; and enhancements to public parks and open space. “We know the neighborhood here has all kinds of connections to Boston College, and we in turn have all kinds of links to our neighborhood and to the surrounding community,” said Fr. Leahy. “Today, we are able to demonstrate an even stronger partnership with various entities in our neighborhood and in our city.” “Boston College is certainly a great and wonderful partner with the city of Boston,” said Walsh. “These projects are certainly going to have an impact on the quality of life in AllstonBrighton.” The Allston-Brighton Vet-

erans received $90,000 to help fund a Medal of Honor monument for Private First Class Ernest W. Prussman, killed during World War II. Boston Police will use $40,000 to buy two speedalert display board units. Two solar-operated trash and recyclable compacting stations costing $25,000 are on their way to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.

Boston College researchers have developed a new type of “cross-coupling” chemical reaction, building on a Nobel Prizewinning technique that is one of the most sophisticated tools available to research chemists, the team reported in the Jan. 1 edition of the journal Science. Transition metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions were the subject of the 2010 Nobel Prize in chemistry. A key component of that novel approach — known as Suzuki-Miyaura coupling —

Emma K. Edelstein, Adam A. Szymaniak and Matteo P. Chierchia. In a companion “perspective” piece in Science, chemists James W.B. Fyfe and Alan J.B. Watson called the team’s findings one of the few advances on the SuzukiMiyaura method since its initial discovery nearly 40 years ago. The Morken lab’s advance is “of enormous potential value in terms of the development of new catalytic transformations, paving the way for a new generation of exciting research,” according to Fyfe and Watson, of the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow,

have a greater awareness of what’s there.” Boston Bikes-Hubway and the city’s transportation department will use $95,600 for two bike-share stations, while $95,538 will fund improvements to McKinney Park including a new automated, solarpowered scoreboard, three concrete chess tables, and transformation of the street hockey court so it

James Morken talks with his research team about their work on a new type of “cross-coupling” chemical reaction. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)

Fr. Leahy and Mayor Walsh congratulate Allison Carter and Richard Mulligan of Brighton Main Streets, one of six non-profits to receive neighborhood grants. Also on hand were State Rep. Kevin Honan (D-Brighton), at far left, and Boston City Councilor Mark Ciommo, far right.

Brighton Main Streets will use $100,000 to install gateway signage along with an interactive kiosk that will provide information about local businesses, access to public transit, and a community calendar. “The money is going to a project that we would never be able to do without a grant like this,” said Brighton Main Streets Executive Director Allison Carter. “The gateway signage will add beautification and help serve as a landmark, which I think is important to make Brighton a destination within the city of Boston. We’re hoping the kiosk will improve foot traffic around the neighborhood and into the businesses because people will

can also be used for soccer and basketball. “It’s going to be amazing,” said Siobhan McHugh, a Friends of McKinney Park board member. Boston Police Community Service Officer Frank Hughes, another board member said, “I think people will see an awful lot of good things there: many more improvements in the way the park is utilized, and more kids in it. If there are more people using the park, it gets better maintained by the city.” “This is truly a community effort today, bringing together the University, the neighborhoods, the state and the city,” said Walsh. Contact Sean Hennessey at sean.hennessey@bc.edu

connects two types of reactants, including one electron donor and one electron acceptor. The team’s new approach adds a third reactant. James P. Morken, the Louise and James Vanderslice and Family Professor of Chemistry, and his team report using transition metals to develop an alternative cross-coupling process that merges two electron donors while they react with the electron acceptor. The resulting “conjunctive” reaction takes place efficiently and offers a high degree of selectivity, according to Morken and the coauthors of the report “Catalytic Conjunctive Cross-Coupling Enabled by Metal-Induced Metallate Rearrangement.” [Available at www.sciencemag.org/content/351/6268/70.full] “Our first significant step was determining that transition metals could facilitate the merger of two organic reactants in a manner commonly observed for other non-metallic chemical reagents,” said Morken. “Once the team made this connection, then we narrowed our focus to consider ways in which catalysis might be achieved.” Other members of the team included graduate students Liang Zhang, Gabriel J. Lovinger,

Scotland. [The piece is online at www.sciencemag.org/content/351/6268/26.full] In a field as widely studied as transition metals cross-coupling, Morken said the researchers were surprised to uncover a new variation on the ground-breaking catalytic method. The team’s early research shows that the new type of reaction can be efficient and selective, two characteristics prized by the researchers who use these types of catalysts, Morken said. The team’s focus is now on finding abundant and cost-effective metal compounds to enable the three-reactant cross-coupling, he said. “Our team is addressing the limitations found in the earlystage development and I think in the long-term that this mode of catalysis will have an impact on the way organic compounds are manufactured, most likely those used in the pharmaceutical industry. If the underlying reactivity can be used in other catalytic chemical processes, then that should open up a broad new collection of chemical reactions that will be of use in chemical manufacture.” Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu

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Chronicle january 28, 2016

“Given the pressures and challenges facing higher education, now is an especially appropriate time to assess our progress over the past decade and develop a new strategic plan to carry us for the next 10 years.” –University President William P. Leahy, SJ

New Strategic Planning Initiative in service to society at large,” said Theology Department Chair Catherine Cornille, who is the Newton College Alumnae Professor. “The effort will require broad consultation,

tion today, and we will need a clear vision for the future if the University is to continue to move forward. The strategic planning process offers us an opportunity to think about how

University Strategic Planning Initiative

• Establish Boston College as the leader in liberal arts education among American universities. • Develop and implement a student formation program that will be a contemporary model for colleges and universities committed to student formation. • Identify and support selected research commitments that will achieve excellence and distinction in addressing urgent societal problems. • Identify and commit targeted resources to selected natural sciences emphases that will establish Boston College among the leaders in these areas. • Build on the strengths and reputations of Boston College’s professional schools to establish leadership in critical professional areas. • Become a significant intellectual and cultural crossroad by leveraging Boston College’s international resources and partnerships, and its Jesuit and Catholic networks. • Become the world’s leading Catholic university and theological center.

–From the 2006 University Strategic Plan

Gary Gilbert

Continued from page 1 cessful strategic planning effort needs to ensure that the University takes stock of where it is — what its strengths are, what its weaknesses are and that it understands how these will inform positioning for a future full of new opportunities and challenges. With the Light the World campaign having met its goal and the new senior leadership team in place, launching a strategic planning effort at this point in time allows for new voices and perspectives to emerge and help prepare the University for the future. Ideally, a successful strategic planning effort will set the stage for the development of the next phase of the campus master plan and ultimately serve as the foundation for the University’s next capital campaign.” “Boston College’s modern history has been marked by regular processes of strategic planning, and we’ve all benefited from this thoughtful approach to building the future of the University,” said Quigley. “I look forward to working with colleagues from across campus as we grapple with the many challenges facing higher education while we imagine how to build an even stronger Boston College.” Members of the Steering Committee, which include four faculty members, two deans and two students, say that a key element of the strategic planning process will be a focus on academic initiatives. “As a faculty member on the strategic planning committee, I look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the strengths and potential of the various academic programs at Boston College, and the way the University can position itself to make a distinctive mark in the areas of research and teaching and

S E V E N S TRAT E G I C D I R E C T I O N S

USPI co-chairs David Quigley, left, and Michael Lochhead

Steering Committee

Asst. Prof. Brian J. Gareau (Sociology) Newton College Alumnae Professor of Theology Catherine M. Cornille Prof. Welkin E. Johnson (Biology) Assoc. Prof. Billy Soo (Accounting) Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, SJ Boston College Law School Dean Vincent D. Rougeau Hagop Toghramadjian ’17 Vice President for Planning and Assessment Kelli J. Armstrong Vice President for Student Affairs Barbara Jones Associate Vice President for Development Beth E. McDermott Vice President for Human Resources David Trainor Chief Investment Officer and Associate Treasurer John J. Zona

Program Director Adam Krueckeberg

and I hope to hear from colleagues from across the University about their vision for the future of Boston College.” Added Law School Dean Vincent Rougeau, “Boston College has made extraordinary progress over the last decade, but this is not the time for us to rest on our laurels. There are many significant challenges that confront higher educa-

we will build and maintain excellence for Boston College in the decades ahead. “I think it is fair to say that we must be prepared to make some meaningful changes that are both consistent with our mission, and our desire to offer a compelling vision of higher education that speaks to the world in a time of rapid social, economic, and political change.” Andrea Cabral ’81, the first female sheriff of Suffolk County, Mass., was the guest speaker at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast held Jan. 21 in the Yawkey Center Murray Room. During her visit, Cabral also spoke with members of the University community, including PULSE Program Assistant Joane Etienne (center) and Assistant Director Shanteri Baliga. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)

The Steering Committee will kick off an assessment process in February, with self-study teams at each of the eight schools and colleges and all vice presidential administrative areas, to evaluate progress made during the past 10 years, identify trends and changes in higher education that may affect Boston College, and explore strategic opportunities. Additionally, there will be several study teams that will assess those University-wide initiatives that span multiple schools, departments or divisions. The self-studies, which are slated to be completed by the end of the spring semester, will then be reviewed by the Steering Committee and the Executive Committee, which includes Fr. Leahy, Quigley, Lochhead, Vice President for University Mission and Ministry John Butler, SJ, Senior Vice President for University Advancement James J. Husson, and Financial Vice President and Treasurer John D. Burke, to examine proposals within the context of the University’s mission, ongoing institutional goals and available resources. “Given the pressures and challenges facing higher education, now is an especially appropriate time to assess our progress over the past decade and develop a new strategic plan to carry us for the next 10 years,” said Fr. Leahy. “Doing all of that will involve much discussion and analysis and sometimes difficult choices.” The strategic planning process is a central component of the culture of planning and assessment that has permeated Boston College for decades and been a defining feature of the Leahy presidency. Boston College’s previous strategic planning effort, titled the University Assessment and Planning Initiative (UAPI), featured input from more than 200 members of the BC community, including faculty, students, alumni, and administrators. Its completion in 2006 led to the creation of BC’s Seven Strategic Directions, which set a clear institutional path for Boston College in

anticipation of its 150th anniversary in 2013. UAPI also led to an accompanying 10-year Institutional Master Plan to provide the infrastructure to support the Strategic Plan, and inspired the Light the World campaign to fund selected programs and projects. Steering Committee members say they have a successful blueprint to follow as a result of the UAPI effort, and the freedom to rely on new tools and insights to guide the current strategic planning process. “There is great enthusiasm and a wide range of views on this committee, and [Vice President for Planning and Assessment] Kelli Armstrong and her team in Institutional Planning and Assessment give us access to data that we did not have in the last planning process,” says Adam Krueckeberg, former associate dean of finance and administration at the School of Theology and Ministry, who was tapped by Fr. Leahy to serve as program director for USPI. “This data has made and will continue to make all the difference in helping committee members to make informed decisions on behalf of the University.” Armstrong agrees that reviewing data, listening to and examining ideas and scanning the environment for opportunities among peer institutions is crucial to a successful strategic planning effort. “Data-driven decisions and thoughtful research on our strengths and weaknesses will have a large role in this strategic planning effort,” said Armstrong. “Our assessment work will give us a close view of today’s higher education setting, and will help us to leverage BC’s strengths toward an exciting vision for the future.” A website has been established to post updates on the strategic planning process, and for members of the BC community to provide input in the coming months. It is available at www.bc.edu/strategicplanning. Contact Jack Dunn at jack.dunn@bc.edu

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Chronicle january 28, 2016

‘A Two-Way Mentoring Model’

By Ed Hayward Staff writer

It’s called the “sandwich challenge”: High school math educators must teach their students lessons that connect the fundamental topics they learned in elementary and middle school with the arena of “disciplinary” mathematics taught in college. “This is a task that might best be compared to trying to build a plane while you’re flying it,” said University of Nebraska Assistant Professor of Mathematics Yvonne Lai, a specialist in mathematical knowledge for teaching. Lai discussed the difficulties and rewards of connecting students, teachers and content across the spectrum of math education during a Campion Hall lecture last semester – part of the monthly meetings of a unique professional development and mentoring project led by faculty from the Mathematics Department and Lynch School of Education. Now in its third year, the project is designed to prepare exemplary math teachers to work in high-need school districts in the Boston area. A $1.6 million National Science Foundation grant supports the program, which pairs each early-career teacher with a master teacher to focus on classroom teaching skills, and a mathematician to work on content mastery. “We’re calling it a two-way mentoring model,” said Lynch School Associate Professor Lillie Albert, the principal investigator on the project, with co-PIs McIntyre Professor of Mathematics Solomon Friedberg and Associate Professor of Mathematics ChiKueng Cheung. “We think we have a unique model that builds knowledge of both content and pedagogy in order to increase student engagement.” The project offers professional development through its partners at the non-profit group Math for America Boston, colleagues from Boston University and the Education Development Center of Newton. The eight early-career teachers spent their first year as Donovan Scholars in the Lynch School’s intensive one-year master’s degree program, which includes

placement as a teacher in a local school. The teachers are now working in schools in Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Framingham and Revere. Master math teachers with at least four years of experience mentor them. The 16 teachers receive stipends of $10,000 a year for up to five years so long as they maintain their commitment to teaching math in a high-needs school district. The stipends are intended to offset any costs, but also to

gram is also focused on developing a professional network of mathematicians in order to support teachers and students in the discipline. “I am tremendously pleased by the community of teachers that is taking shape,” said Friedberg. “I see our teachers supporting and enriching each other with thoughtful feedback and well-thought-out professional activities, and a community that builds on and joins the exper-

Lee Pellegrini

Lynch School, Math faculty collaborate to blaze a new path in math education field

“We think we have a unique model that builds knowledge of both content and pedagogy in order to increase student engagement,” says Lillie Albert (right), co-leader of a project that prepares math teachers to work in high-need Boston school districts. Her colleague Solomon Friedberg (left) adds, “I see our teachers supporting and enriching each other with thoughtful feedback and well-thought-out professional activities, and a community that builds on and joins the expertise of the many individuals concerned with math education.” retain math teachers whose skills are in demand in a number of other industries and occupations. Finally, the teacher pairs are matched with an academic mathematician, including retired faculty from BC and other area universities. Veteran Brighton High School math teacher Chloe Ford said the program workshops give her the chance to develop new lessons and find solutions to issues ranging from curriculum development to helping students cope with math anxiety. There’s also a welcome emphasis on working through tough math problems. “I like the emphasis on doing math,” said Ford. “It gives us teachers opportunities to do challenging math problem solving and remember what it is like to be students. In this process we get a chance to collaborate with each other and discuss applications of problem solving within the classroom.” Beyond the classrooms of BC and area high schools, the pro-

tise of the many individuals concerned with math education. I am also impressed and pleased by the interest of the teachers in deepening their understanding of mathematical topics and incorporating this understanding into their teaching.” Both Friedberg and Albert hope to secure future funding to extend the program, or deepen their research into the success of their new model and ways to replicate it. “I think our model is working great, and I would love to expand it, for example taking in a new cohort of master’s students who would then go through the same mentoring,” said Friedberg. “However, it is a challenging environment in terms of funding. We are very fortunate that BC was willing to find the matching funds required by the NSF for our original effort.” Contact Ed Hayward at ed.hayward@bc.edu

“It took a while, but we’ve reached a point where it’s generally accepted that mental health should be given equal weight as physical health in considering one’s well-being,” says Lubben. “Now, we want to put social health on that same level.” (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)

BCSSW Focuses on Social Isolation Continued from page 1 lenges initiatives include ending homelessness, stopping family violence, harnessing technology for social good and reducing extreme economic inequality. Louise McMahon Ahearn Professor James Lubben, who is also director of BC’s Institute on Aging, is a co-creator of the social isolation initiative and also has helped AASWSW in putting together the Grand Challenges program. Lubben worked with BCSSW colleagues to draw up a proposal for including social isolation among the Grand Challenges: Assistant Professor Erika Sabbath; doctoral student Jooyoung Kong; Carrie Johnson, assistant director of the Hartford Center of Excellence in Geriatric Social Work (of which Lubben is director) headquartered at BCSSW; and adjunct faculty member Chebali Nadal. Melanie Gironda, associate clinical professor at the University of Southern California, also is co-leading the effort. Earlier this month, members of the BCSSW contingent traveled to Washington, DC, for the formal unveiling of the Grand Challenges, at the Society for Social Work and Research annual meeting. “Professional meetings like this are the perfect forum for exchanging ideas and offering or receiving encouragement,” said Lubben last week. “It was a very energizing experience, and hopefully augurs well for the future.” Although public perception may view it as a problem for the elderly, social isolation affects other populations, according to Lubben and his collaborators, and research suggests that more Americans across a wide age range are feeling socially isolated than in the past. Physical and mental health problems associated with social isolation – including among children and youths – are well documented, said Lubben, and there also can be public safety ramifications: Many adolescent mass murderers have been described as socially isolated or ostracized from their peers. Organizations such as the US National Institutes of Health, AARP and the World Health Organization have

identified social isolation as a major priority. Lubben said that, over the course of the initiative, he and his collaborators hope to form a more comprehensive picture of social isolation, by examining societal and demographic trends over a period of decades that have made it more difficult to form and maintain relationships. “It took a while, but we’ve reached a point where it’s generally accepted that mental health should be given equal weight as physical health in considering one’s well-being,” said Lubben. “Now, we want to put social health on that same level.” To accomplish this, social isolation should be part of social work education curriculums, Lubben and co-authors said, and assessment and intervention for social isolation should be incorporated into the profession’s practice protocols. On a broader level, policies and programs that address social isolation are needed, they added, as are communities that enhance strong social ties. Interdisciplinary cooperation will play a key role in understanding and eradicating social isolation, Lubben and the co-authors note. Epidemiologists could identify atrisk populations and subpopulations. Health service researchers could focus on controlling for social isolation in their models. Biologists and neuroscientists could examine biological pathways that account for the linkage between isolation and health consequences. Clinical researchers could develop and test interventions. “Ultimately, we all need to realize the importance of social interactions in our personal lives,” said Lubben. “We should factor our social health into career and other life decisions, and recognize that our social ties are something we need to nurture. Those connections are central to our health and well-being.” For more on the American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative, see aaswsw.org/ grand-challenges-initiative. Contact Sean Smith at sean.smith@bc.edu

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle january 28, 2016

Athletics Launches ‘Flight School’ Program

The Robsham Theater Arts Center spring schedule – which begins tonight with “Almost, Maine” – will feature “Learning How to Drown,” an original musical by accomplished New York City-based actor, singer, writer and 2007 alumna and Presidential Scholar Patricia Noonan. Other productions taking place this semester are “Time Stands Still” and “The Servant of Two Masters.” “Almost, Maine,” by John Cariani, will be performed in Robsham’s Bonn Studio at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The Theatre Department Workshop Production is directed by Ryan Cooper ’16. The nine short plays in “Almost, Maine” explore love and loss in the remote, mythical almost-town of Almost, Maine. Its 2004 premiere, at the Portland Stage Company in Maine, broke box office records and garnered critical acclaim. Noonan’s “Learning How to Drown,” a Patricia Noonan ’07 Theatre Department/RTAC production, comes to Robsham Feb. 17-20 at 7:30 p.m., and on Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. in the Bonn Studio. Inspired by the Irish myth of the Selkies – seal people who can shed their skin and become human – “Learning How to Drown” takes the audience on a riveting journey across both the sea and time. A hurricane leaves Emma and John stranded together in her New York City apartment; John proposes, but when Emma turns him down, their weekend takes an unexpected turn as she shares the story of her grandparents’ tumultuous love affair. Shifting between the present, Emma’s memory, and the love story that has shaped her family, the play shows how stories of our past affect our present and asks: Do we let these stories trap us or set us free? “‘Learning How to Drown’ is a musical inspired by the Irish myths and stories I grew up with, so it seems fitting to bring this show to the place where I honed my performance and playwriting skills while studying things like comparative mythology and the politics of storytelling,” said Noonan. Noonan wrote the book and lyrics for “Learning How to Drown,” working with composer Amanda Jacobs and director Igor Goldin. Theatre Department Chair and Associate Professor Crystal Tiala is designing the set, and Monan Professor in Theatre Arts Michelle Miller ’98 is the production’s vocal coach. “We are so grateful to have been given the time, space, and support to continue to strengthen the script and score of this brand-new musical,” Noonan said. “For me, there is the added joy of coming full circle, as ‘Learning How to Drown’ will be performed in the Bonn Studio Theatre where my thesis play, ‘The Storykeeper,’ debuted when I was a senior.” Donald Margulies’ “Time Stands Still,” a Theatre Department Workshop production directed by Caitlin Mason ’16, will be staged in Bonn Studio March 17-19 at 7:30 p.m., and on March 20 at 2 p.m. Set in Brooklyn, the play centers on Sarah, a photojournalist recovering from an injury she sustained covering the Iraq war, and her reporter boyfriend James, who is guilt-ridden after leaving Sarah alone in Iraq. They are visited by a friend who introduces them to his new, much younger girlfriend. The play focuses on their relationships and Sarah and James’ prospects of a more conventional life. Capping the 2016 spring semester is the Theatre Department/RTAC production of the Carlo Goldoni comedy “The Servant of Two Masters,” which will be performed on the Robsham main stage as part of the BC Arts Festival April 28-30 at 7:30 p.m. and on May 1 at 2 p.m. Directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Luke Jorgensen, “The Servant of Two Masters” is full of plot twists: Beatrice disguises herself as her late brother Federigo to find his killer: her lover Florindo. She plans to collect dowry money from Pantalone, the father of Federigo’s betrothed, Clarice, and use it to help Florindo escape. But Clarice has become engaged to another man, Silvio, whose existence Pantalone seeks to conceal from Federigo (Beatrice). Meanwhile, Beatrice’s servant Truffaldino emerges as the play’s central figure, when he has the opportunity to be servant to Florindo as well. Truffaldino’s attempts to secretly serve two masters heightens the comedy. Admission to these productions is $15 for adults, $10 for students (with valid ID), $10 for seniors, and $10 for BC faculty/staff (one ticket per ID). Additional fees apply. For tickets contact the Robsham Theater Box Office at 617-552-4002, or see bc.edu/tickets. To read more about this semester’s productions, see tiny.cc/0agg4x. –Rosanne Pellegrini

More Campus Arts on page 8

ing Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development Alison Quandt, to help student-athletes discern and identify post-graduation plans, whether employment, graduate school, professional sports, and volunteer or activism work. For the 2013-14 academic year, Bates set a goal of 70 percent of

Caitlin Cunningham

Noonan’s ‘Learning How to Drown’ Highlights Robsham Spring Slate

Boston College Athletics has announced the launch of a new program to help BC student-athletes plan and prepare for life after graduation. The program, titled “Flight School,” is aimed at providing student-athletes with more opportunities to gain real-work experience before graduation, especially within constraints of year-round team obligations like practice, competitions and travel on top of their normal academic load. Flight School connects current student-athletes with a network of Boston College alumni and their colleagues who have volunteered to serve as the student-athletes’ council and resource in the professional world. This network would provide a variety of opportunities, from informational interviews about vocations to internships or jobs to qualified studentathletes. The annual goal of Flight School, according to Athletics Director Brad Bates, is that 90 percent of BC student-athletes have post-graduate plans by the time they receive their diplomas. “Flight School represents layers of great connections and mutually beneficial relationships that ultimately serve our students, past, present and future,” Bates said. The program builds on recent efforts by Bates along with other Athletics administrators and staff, includ-

Brad Bates: “Flight School represents layers of great connections and mutually beneficial relationships that ultimately serve our students, past, present and future.”

has taken a leadership role in the program. Early on during the planning stages for Flight School, Skarupa had approached Bates about creating opportunities for BC student-athletes to explore post-graduation options. He then collaborated with Quandt in recruiting alumni advocates to be part of the Flight School network. “Here are kids who are naturally driven, very dedicated and have a solid work ethic, but also bring in a confidence and a level of poise and maturity that differentiates them. When you think about trying to hire talent for a business, those intangibles are what tends to set people apart,” Skarupa said. Bates sees a great potential for the program, not only in the near term, but also as graduates move on and become active with future studentathletes. “We are fortunate to have engaged alumni serving as tremendous resources – as mentors and employers – while instilling in our current and future students a sense of service to later become resources after graduation and those who follow them. This program has the potential to have a real, tangible impact on our studentathletes for years to come.”

graduating student-athletes to have definitive post-graduation plans, and 80 percent for 2014-15 – both of which were achieved. “Our goal every year is to have at least 90 percent of our studentathletes with a job on the day they graduate and, to my knowledge, no other athletic departments have estab- Read the full Athletics Department announcement on Flight School at lished such a lofty goal,” he said. Tony Skarupa ’84, father of BC http://bit.ly/20bJLOx. women’s hockey player Haley ’16,

Web Redesign Took Many Hands Continued from page 1 their efforts, the University now has a website that will vastly improve our ability to tout the outstanding faculty and students who make BC one of the nation’s best universities. This was a truly collaborative effort that followed the input of the campus community and drew on the strengths of BC’s talented staff.” “The web is often where potential students gain their first impression of the University and it’s where many others first encounter us and judge us,” said Office of Marketing Communications Executive Director Ben Birnbaum. “The last site was 10 years old — eons in technology time, which means it didn’t offer technological and graphic features that other university sites offer and therefore looked out-of-date. And while first judgments can be turned by subsequent impressions, making the right first impression is the more efficient way to operate.” With more than half of visitors to BC.EDU using the site on a smartphone or tablet, it was imperative to have a responsive design, meaning the website would automatically reconfigure on various devices. Bourque said a consistent web experience for all users has been achieved, while addressing accessibility concerns. “Creating an industry-leading

website for Boston College was an exceedingly complex project requiring the dedication of our team for several years,” said ITS Project Leader Scott Olivieri, a doctoral student in higher education administration at the Lynch School of Education. “It’s unlike most IT projects because we’re essentially creating a platform to represent the University to the world. The technology must support the storytelling, not drive or constrain it. A successful higher education website must balance design, content and functionality to create a compelling experience for visitors.” “This project has been a wonderful, collaborative experience,” said Brock Dilworth, managing director of creative services in OMC. “It’s easy to get too ingrained in our work silos. But this project has been a perfect example of working together, across departments and offices, to achieve a collective goal, particularly one that should have such a positive effect for Boston College, showcasing the University’s many strengths and articulating its mission to the more than 4.6 million people that visit our web site every year.” “It has been exciting to see the reactions to the new site, but this really is a starting point,” said

NPA Social Media Manager Melissa Beecher. “We want to build on what you see today. The collaborative partnership that has been achieved among technical experts, designers and content creators allowed us to create a vibrant digital space. With stories, photos, videos and components updated regularly, the site will better reflect the dynamic community that is Boston College.” Other members of the project team were OMC Art Director Diana Parziale, ITS Senior Web Designer Kul Thapa, PMP Project Chuck Greulich Manager, Web Systems Administrator Dave Lewis, Interface Designer Yanyan Hou, and staff from R2integrated. Project contributors were NPA Senior Creative Producer Sean Casey, videographers Mike Dillon and Kevin Casey, Web Interface Designer Mikal Morello of Garfinkle + Associates, writer Bari Walsh, OMC Administrative Assistant Tatiana Flis, Web Chancellor emeritus James O’Neill, application developers Ramiro Oliva and Larry Voke, ITS Associate Director of Business Services Mary Schorr, and ITS Senior Applications Server Administrator Joe Jerista. –Office of News & Public Affairs

T he B oston C ollege

Chronicle january 28, 2016

BOSTON COLLEGE IN THE MEDIA

Jon Kerbs

Senior Lecturer of Marketing Carroll School of Management DEGREES: Indiana University (MBA); United States Military Academy (BS) WHAT HE’S TEACHING: Marketing Core; Marketing Principles Why did you come to BC? “After 25 years in industry, I felt it was time to take advantage of an opportunity to join an amazing community here at BC and the Carroll School and do something every day that I love: teaching and bringing my work experiences to the classroom.”

Lynnise Pantin

Clinical Associate Professor Boston College Law School DEGREES: Pomona College (BA); Columbia Law School (JD) WHAT SHE STUDIES: Pedagogy; lawyering skills teaching and clinical teaching; interlacing social justice, ethics and corporate law WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Community Enterprise Clinic; Community Enterprise Clinic Class You’re going to be starting up a new initiative this coming fall – tell us a little about it. “The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Clinic (the “EIC” or the “Clinic”) is a legal clinic that provides free transactional legal services to clients with limited resources on issues relating to new and emerging businesses. Law students, working under the direction of the Clinic director, will provide a broad range of transactional legal services, while receiving the hands-on, practical experience needed to navigate the rapidly evolving fields of entrepreneurship and innovation. Clients will include micro-entrepreneurs, technology entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, artists, authors, filmmakers and musicians, who may be individuals or for-profit businesses in the Greater Boston area in need of transactional legal counsel related to starting or operating their business.”

Emily Thorson

Assistant Professor of Political Science Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences DEGREES: Williams College (BA); University of Pennsylvania (PhD) WHAT SHE STUDIES: Information effects in politics; new media; political psychology; media coverage of elections; campaign dynamics; interpersonal communication WHAT SHE’S TEACHING: Media and Politics; Research Design in Political Science The media and public alike have raised concerns about distortions of fact by presidential candidates. What are the most effective means of countering political misinformation? “There are three different ways in which fact-checking can minimize the effects of misinformation. One way is by reaching out to people directly and educating them about the facts, and although audiences for fact-checking outlets are relatively small, they are growing – especially in local media markets. A second is by serving as a reference for journalists, who can then use these fact-checking sites as evidence to more actively ‘call out’ politicians who make misleading statements. And finally, factchecking organizations can influence the behavior of politicians – ideally, the desire to not end up with a ‘Pants on Fire’ rating from Politifact will incentivize politicians to be more truthful. Ultimately, many of these effects are incremental, but I’m optimistic that overall, these fact-checking organizations are making a difference.”

–Sean Hennessey and Sean Smith Photos by Lee Pellegrini

Duffy Lecture Series to Host Fr. Orobator Agbonkhianmenghe Orobator, SJ (Bator), professor of systematic theology at Hekima University College of Kenya, will present “Faiths at War: Conflicts, Contestations, and Claims in Africa’s Triple Religious Heritage” on Feb. 1 as part of the Duffy Lectures in Global Christianity sponsored by the Theology Department. Fr. Orobator’s talk will take place in Gasson 305 at 5 p.m. For more information, call ext.2-3880.

Diane Ring talked with Bloomburg News about state legislators’ efforts to clarify the legal status of daily fantasy sports during upcoming sessions.

Science) suggesting that crats are motivated by policy deliverables while licans are motivated by philosophical principles.

Prof. Kent Greenfield (Law) provided analysis to New England Cable News’ “Broadside” regarding the effect of Ted Cruz’s Canadian birth on his eligibility for the presidency.

Eurasia Diary interviewed Assoc. Prof. of the Practice Westy Egmont (BCSSW) about the vulnerability of refugees, and their future in the face of so much social disruption.

Boston College faculty offered their expertise for media coverage on the controversy over fantasy sports. Assoc. Prof. of the Practice of Finance Richard McGowan, SJ (CSOM), was interviewed by The New York Times following a statement by the Texas attorney general that under state law such play constitutes illegal gambling. Law School Professors Alfred Yen and

Lynch School of Education faculty members Prof. David Blustein and Assoc. Prof. Karen Arnold discussed their research findings with the Chronicle of Higher Education for a piece on barriers to aspirational careers faced by lowincome students.

Roche Center for Catholic Education Executive Director Patricia Weitzel-O’Neill and Asst. Prof. Hosffman Ospino (STM), coauthors of a forthcoming report on Catholic schools and Hispanic ministry, spoke with National Catholic Reporter about the crucial role of dual-language immersion programs in the Church’s efforts to better serve Latino Catholics.

Demospecific Repubbroader

Assoc. Prof. of the Practice Michael C. Keith (Communication) was quoted in the Smithsonian Magazine on the 100th anniversary of public radio.

Vox.com featured research by Asst. Prof. David Hopkins (Political

EXPERT OPINION Boston College Law School Assistant Professor Kari Hong on the US Supreme Court’s announcement that it will consider President Obama’s plan to shield some five million illegal immigrants from deportation: “This is a very good sign that the Supreme Court took up this case. The Fifth Circuit’s denial of executive action was wrong. It developed a new theory that states could in effect veto acts of Congress and the President to stop giving immigrants legal status under executive action. The Fifth Circuit essentially had states serving as the fourth branch of government. The Supreme Court extended the appeal time and expedited this matter. Its decision to take it up on this term sends a strong message that Obama’s executive action will likely be reinstated this term. This is a good sign for immigrants and the operation of our democracy.”

Lee Pellegrini

An introduction to new faculty members at Boston College

Assoc. Prof. John Gallaugher (CSOM) offered comments to Reuters on what General Electric’s move to Boston could mean for the city.

JOBS FROM THE BC BOOKMARKS BLOG In Thinking Prayer: Theology and Spirituality amid the Crises of Modernity (University of Notre Dame Press, 2015), Assistant Professor of Theology Andrew Prevot presents a new, integrated approach to Christian theology and spirituality, focusing on the centrality of prayer to theology in the modern age. Prevot offers critical interpretations of Martin Heidegger, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Jean-Louis Chrétien, Johann Baptist Metz, Ignacio Ellacuría, and James Cone, among others. His analysis of these notable philosophical and theological thinkers’ responses to modernity through the theme of prayer charts a new spiritual path through the crises of modernity. Assistant Professor of Sociology Brian Gareau, along with Damian White and Alan Rudy, have published Environments, Natures and Social Theory (Palgrave MacMillan, 2015), a groundbreaking text that provides a definitive, cross-disciplinary mapping of the state of environmental social theory. The authors insist on the necessity of a critical but optimistic hybrid politics, arguing that a more just, egalitarian, democratic and sustainable anthropocene is within reach. Gareau was one of the organizers of BC’s recent conference, “Our Common Home,” which explored the spiritual and policy implications of Pope Francis’ encyclical on climate change.